System for creating and editing mark up language forms and documents

Abstract

A system for creating and editing mark up language forms and documents in a manner that is user friendly. The system dynamically generates a user interface that is customized to the particular form or document selected by the user. The user then enters information into the plurality of fields in the user interface for the form or document. Once the form or document is completed, the user can save the form or document in a document repository. The user can also transmit the form or document as an electronic filing document. Additionally, the data entry fields of the form or document can automatically expand or contract to accommodate data of varying length. Moreover, the user can create templates that include frequently used data.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A computer system for creating and editing mark up language forms or documents comprising:
 input logic configured to receive and process user input relating to a form or document to be created; and 
 customizing logic configured to dynamically generate a word processing user interface by inputting a schema retrieved from a schema repository, wherein the schema defines the form or document, wherein the user interface is customized to the form or document and is configured to introduce form or document content into data entry fields of the customized user interface based on user input entered in the user interface, and to use color to designate a document node in the form or document content currently selected, wherein when a cursor is positioned after a last character in a node and a right arrow key is depressed, the adjacent node changes color, and the cursor does not move when the adjacent node changes color, and wherein when the cursor is positioned before a first character in a node and a left arrow key is depressed, the adjacent node changes color, and the cursor does not move when the adjacent node changes color, and wherein the computer system processes the input logic and the customizing logic. 
 
     
     
       2. The computer system of  claim 1 , wherein the customizing logic generates the word processing user interface by identifying a schema namespace associated with the schema and using the schema namespace to retrieve the schema from the schema repository. 
     
     
       3. The computer system of  claim 1 , wherein when the customizing logic dynamically generates the word processing user interface, the customizing logic places a label for a data entry field in the word processing user interface, the label corresponding to an element or attribute name of a schema associated with said form or document. 
     
     
       4. The computer system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 form completion logic configured to generate the instance form or document based on the form or document content introduced into the word processing user interface. 
 
     
     
       5. The computer system of  claim 4 , further comprising:
 electronic filing logic configured to transmit the completed form or document as an electronic filing document. 
 
     
     
       6. The computer system of  claim 4 , further comprising:
 storage and retrieval logic configured to store or retrieve a form or document stored in a document repository. 
 
     
     
       7. The computer system of  claim 6 , wherein the form or document is saved in the document repository with a namespace associated with the form or document. 
     
     
       8. The computer system of  claim 4 , and wherein the form completion logic is configured to automatically process the completed form or document in a predetermined manner to provide the completed form or document with a particular appearance. 
     
     
       9. The computer system of  claim 8 , wherein the data entry fields can expand or contract to accommodate data of varying length. 
     
     
       10. The computer system of  claim 4 , further comprising:
 document editing logic configured to edit the document content entered into the data fields. 
 
     
     
       11. The computer system of  claim 10 , wherein the document editing logic causes a message to be displayed that describes a type of document node. 
     
     
       12. The computer system of  claim 10 , wherein the color is displayed when the particular document node is entered or when a mouse is placed over the particular document node. 
     
     
       13. The computer system of  claim 10 , wherein when a particular keystroke is depressed, the document editing logic causes an input screen to be displayed to allow a user to enter information into the input screen. 
     
     
       14. The computer system of  claim 13 , wherein the particular keystroke comprises one of an enter key and a spacebar key. 
     
     
       15. The computer system of  claim 1 , wherein the customizing logic is configured to create form or document templates that include frequently used data entry fields. 
     
     
       16. A method for editing mark up language forms or documents comprising:
 receiving and processing user input relating to a form or document to be created; and 
 dynamically generating a word processing user interface by inputting a schema retrieved from a schema repository, wherein the schema defines the form or document, and wherein the user interface is customized to the form or document and is configured to introduce form or document content into data entry fields of the customized user interface based on user input entered in the user interface, and to use color to designate a document node in the form or document content currently selected, wherein when a cursor is positioned after a last character in a node and a right arrow key is depressed, the adjacent node changes color, and the cursor does not move when the adjacent node changes color, and wherein when the cursor is positioned before a first character in a node and a left arrow key is depressed, the adjacent node changes color, and the cursor does not move when the adjacent node changes color. 
 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 16 , further comprising generating the word processing user interface by identifying a schema namespace associated with the schema and using the schema namespace to retrieve the schema from the schema repository. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 16 , further comprising placing a label for a data entry field in the user interface, the label corresponding to an element or attribute name of a schema associated with said form or document, when dynamically generating the word processing user interface. 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 16 , further comprising generating an instance form or document based on the form or document content introduced into the word processing user interface. 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 19 , further comprising transmitting the completed form or document as an electronic filing document. 
     
     
       21. The method of  claim 19 , further comprising editing the document content entered into the data fields. 
     
     
       22. The method of  claim 21 , further comprising causing a message to be displayed that describes a type of document node. 
     
     
       23. The method of  claim 21 , further comprising displaying color when the particular document node is entered or when a mouse is placed over the particular document node. 
     
     
       24. The method of  claim 21 , further comprising causing an input screen to be displayed to allow a user to enter information into the input screen when a particular keystroke is depressed. 
     
     
       25. The method of  claim 24 , wherein the particular keystroke comprises one of an enter key and a spacebar key. 
     
     
       26. The method of  claim 16 , and further comprising storing or retrieving a form or document stored in a document repository. 
     
     
       27. The method of  claim 26 , further comprising saving the form or document in the document repository with a namespace associated with the form or document. 
     
     
       28. The method of  claim 16 , further comprising creating form or document templates that include frequently used data entry fields. 
     
     
       29. The method of  claim 16 , further comprising automatically processing the completed form or document in a predetermined manner to provide the completed form or document with a particular appearance. 
     
     
       30. The method of  claim 29 , wherein the data entry fields can expand or contract to accommodate data of varying length. 
     
     
       31. A computer program for creating and editing mark up language forms or documents, the computer program being embodied on a computer-strong medium, the program comprising:
 a first code segment for receiving and processing user input relating to a form or document to be created; and 
 a second code segment for dynamically generating a word processing user interface by inputting a schema retrieved from a schema repository, wherein the schema defines the form or document, and wherein the user interface is customized to the form or document and is configured to introduce form or document content into data entry fields of the customized user interface based on user input entered in the user interface, and to use color to designate a document node in the form or document content currently selected, wherein when a cursor is positioned after a last character in a node and a right arrow key is depressed, the adjacent node changes color, and the cursor does not move when the adjacent node changes color, and wherein when the cursor is positioned before a first character in a node and a left arrow key is depressed, the adjacent node changes color, and the cursor does not move when the adjacent node changes color. 
 
     
     
       32. The computer program of  claim 31 , further comprising:
 a third second code segment for placing a label for a data entry field in the word processing user interface, the label corresponding to an element or attribute name of a schema associated with said form or document, when dynamically generating the word processing user interface. 
 
     
     
       33. The computer program of  claim 31 , further comprising:
 a fourth code segment for creating form or document templates that include frequently used data entry fields. 
 
     
     
       34. The computer program of  claim 31 , further comprising:
 a fifth code segment for automatically processing the completed form or document in a predetermined manner to provide the completed form or document with a particular appearance. 
 
     
     
       35. The computer program of  claim 31 , further comprising:
 a sixth code segment for the data entry fields can expand or contract to accommodate data of varying length. 
 
     
     
       36. The computer program of  claim 31 , further comprising:
 a seventh code segment for causing a message to be displayed that describes a type of document node. 
 
     
     
       37. The computer program of  claim 31 , further comprising:
 an eighth code segment for displaying color when the particular document node is entered or when a mouse is placed over the particular document node.